Automatic weighing and recording scale



(No Model.) I 5 Sheets- Sheet 1.

' E. H. AMET.

AUTOMATIG WBIGHING AND. RECORDING SGALE. No; 380',672.

Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

(No'Mod eLy I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

E.H.AMET.

I AUTOMATIG WEIGHING AND REGORDING SOALE. No. 380,67 2. PatentedApr. 10. 1888.

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I (No Model.) I Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. H. AMET.

AUTOMATIG -WEIGHING AND REGORDING SGALE.

No. 380.672; Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. H. AMET. w AUTOMATIG WEIGHING A D REGORDING SGALE. No. 380,(372. Pate'nted Apr. 10, 18.88.

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` f E. H. AMI-:TI 5 Shees-Sheet 5. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING AND REGORDING SCALE. No. 380,(572. Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEQ EDWARD H. AMET, OF GHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HERBERT A.

. STREETER, OF SAME PLAOE.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHI NG AND RECQRDING SCALE.

SPECIFICATION orming part of Letters Patent No. 380.672, dated .April 10, 1888.

Application filed September 5, 1887. Serial Ne. 248.779. (No modeL) To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. AMET, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illnois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic \Veighing and Recording Scales, of which the following is a specification.

*My invention r'elates to apparatus for automatically weighing and recording weights.

The invention consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of devices herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims, whereby different.

articles or loads may be accurately weighed and their weights simultaneously recorded.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this Specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the weighing and recording apparatus, showing' its bOX in section, and showing also in elevation, on a reduced scale, a platform-scale such as may be used for weighing cars, and the connection of the Weighing and recording mechanism therewith. In this figure some of the parts of the weighing and recording mechanism are omitted, the object being in this figure simply to show its combination with the platform or other scale. Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the weighing and recording mechanism. Fig. 3 is a front View of the weighing and recording mechanism, the box or case being in section. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 i of Fig. 3, showing the weighing and recording mechanism in elevation. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan View of the printing block and lever.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the printing-block. Fig. 7 is an enlarged face View of a portion of the type-wheel. Fig. 8 shows a portion of the tape or paper strip as printed. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the paper-strip-feed-operatinglever. Fig. 10 is an end View of thelever shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 shows a modification in which an ordinary spring-balance is employed as the variable poise or counter-balance in place of the weight immersed in mercury.

In said drawings, A represents a weighing scale, which is or may be of any well-known or usual Construction, and adapted for weigh ing-cars, wagous, or light articles weighing' only a few pounds or hundreds ofpounds. My weighing and recording mechanism is connected directly to one of the scale levers or beams, as a. i

B represents a spring-motor, which may be of any usual and well-known Construction,

and need not therefore be particularly shown or described. It operates the paperfeed and serves to keep' the paper strip under proper tension. The scale-laver a is connected by a link, a', to the variable poise or counter-balance C, furnished with a rack-bar, c. This variable poise may consist of an ordinary spring-balance, as shown in Fig. ll; but I prefer to employ as the varahle 'poise a weight immersed to a greater or less extent in a cup of mercury or other liquid. I prefer to employ mercury as the liquid in which the weight is immersed; and a minor feature of my invention consists in making the weight in the form of a hollow cup filled to a greater or less extent with the same liquid, so that the specific gravity of the weight will approxinate that of the liquid in which it is immersed.

C' represents the mercury-containing vessel; Cthe inercury therein; 0 the weight-cup; and G* the mercury in the weight-cup. The weightcup 0 is furnished with a disk, c', near its bottom, which is larger in diameter than the weight, and loosely fits the mercury-containing cylinder O', so as to operate in a measure as a dash-pot, and thus prevent any sudden or jerking movement of the rack-bar c. The counterpoise C may be adjusted so as to balance the scale by an adj listing-screw, 0 which will vary the height of the mercury or liquid in the weight-submerging vessel O'. In case a spring should be used for the variable counterpoise C this adj usting-screw c Will vary the tension of the spring, and thus balance the scale.

As shown in Fig. 11, a spring counter-bal a'nce is employed, and the dash-pot disk or piston c' is preferably Secured to the rod or rack c just above the spring. In this case the dash-pot or vessel C', in which the piston-disk c' reciprocates to regulate and steady the motion of the type-wheelrshaft, and thus bring the wheel quickly to rest,need not necessarily be filled with any liquid, as the air may serve the same function,- and by its admission or es cape from the VesselC' or around the piston c' control the movement of the raek c and printing-whee1 or pointer.

D is thetype-wheeLmounted upon the shaft d, journaled in snitablebearings in the case or f'ame B'. This shaft d is furnished with a gear, d',which meshes with the rack c, so that whatever movement may be imparted to the rack c will be comnunicated to the type-wheel D. The shaft d is furnished with a small pulley, (1 carrying a cord, d from which is suspended a light weight,d*,which should bejust heavy enough to counterbalance the friction of the shaft d and its bearings and of the gear and raek d' e, so that the weightrecorded will not beinfiuenced by the friction of these parts.

It will be observed that the weight is so combined with the axle d that it' tends toturn said shaft in the same direction that. it is turned by the rack c when moved by the load upon the scale-platform. By thus eounterbalancing the shaft d or its friction,the operation of the apparatus is made much more sensitive and the weighing very accurate.

The type or figures (P are made upon the peripheral face of the type-wheel D. The type-wheel represented in the drawings is designed for a car-scale, and is graduated to hundreds of ponnds, as shown in Fig. 6, with division marks d between indicating every twenty-five pounds. The stationary arrow or pointcr printing-type dlwhich is mounted on the frame of the machine, is also printed upon the tape, and will indicate the true weight between two consecutive hundred-pound typenarks as printed by the wheel. By this arrangement I am enabled to indicate the true weight within twenty-five pounds or less and still employ a comparatively small type-wheel, even for a car-seale, where the weights to be weighed of course vary many tons.

E is the ribbon or strip of paper upon which the weights are to be printed. It passes transversely across the wheel just below the printing block or hammer F.

E' represents the paper-roll froni which the paper strip is unwound.

E is a guide-roll over which the paper ribbon or strip passes.

E is another guide-roll which is mounted upon the printing-lever F', and EE are paper guide and holding rollers.

E is the roller within the spring-motor, around which the printed paper is wound. The holding-rollers E* E serve by clamping the paper between them to prevent the feeding or winding of the paper except at intervals, as required,when the holding-roller E* is released and. permitted to revolve the proper distance to feed the paper forward sut'ficiently to receive the inpression of the next weight.

F is the printing-block mounted on the end of the flat spring F. The printing-lever F' has a needle-point pivot,f,which is journaled in the hearing-screws f'f. The printingbloekFis secured rigidly to the fiat spring F and is provided with armsfwhich are pivoted to the shaftf of the guideroll E The printing-b1ock F is furnished with an opening` or passage, f (see Fig. 6,) for the ribbon or paper to passthrough, sothat theprinting-bloek nay be struck by the key or lever without tonehing the paper or interfering with itsfeed. The printing block F is further provided with a slotted guard-platej so that only a limited portion of the paper strip can cone in contact with the type-wheel.

G is the inking-roller. It has a vibratory movement in a horizontal plane transversely across the periphery of the type-wheel, so that its frietion on the type-wheel will not mate rially tend to increase or dirninish the extent of movement of the type-wheel. The inkingroller G is journaled on a eranlcarm, g, pivoted at g' to the frame of the machine. The short arm g of this bent lever g is connected by a link, 1 with an arm or projection, g on the key-lever H. The key-lever H is journaled or pivoted at l to the frane ot' the machine, and is provided with a short arni, h', which is furnished with aspring, h, and an adjusting screw, h. The keydever H is also provided with an adjustable hammer or screw, hflwhich strikes against the printing-block F. The same deprcssion of the key-lever H will thus operate the inking-rollcr or Swing it across the face of the type-wheel, and also depress the printing-block and make the impression. The short arm h' of the key-lever H is furnished with a sliding spring, pin, or pawl, h' which catches over the end of the pawl-le Ver K when the kevdever is making its backward or return movement', thus raising the oppositc end of' the pawl-lever K and disengaging the bent end k of said pawtlever from the pin or note-h k' in the ribbon-holding roller E thus permitting such roller to revolve one revolution under the action of the spring-Inotor B, and thus feed the papenribbon E forward into position for printing the next weight. The pawllever K is pivoted at lt to the frame of the machine or a bracket, 73, thereon. This pawl-lever is provided with a spring, k to return it into position, and a set-screw, lc limits its movement.

Instead of Operating the key-1everH bythe hand or finger, it may, when desh-ed, be operated automatically by the movement of the car or vehicle being weighed over the platform of the scale. In Fig. l I have shown this latter combination.

L is a pawl-1ever, the end of which projects in the path of the wheel, so that the lever is depressed by each wheel of the car as it moves over the scale-platforn. The pawl lot' this lever operates a ratchet, Z', which in turn op` erates the lever M, pivoted at m to the france, and the free end of which is connected or pivoted to the sliding rod m', which communicates the n'otion to the key-lever H. The ratchet has eight teeth, and is furnished with only two pins, m* m' to opcrate the lever M, so that the lever M will clepress the key-lever only once in four times, or when the fourth IIO and lastwheel of the car passes over thepawllever L.

N is a magnifying glass mounted on a bracket, n, directly over the printed strip of paper, and so combined in relation to the paperfeed that the last printed weight will stop directly'nnder the magnifying-glass, so that the position of the pointer-arrow d in relation tothe figures and division-marks made by the type-wheel may be readily seen and read. This combination of the magnifyingglass with the paper-feed, type-wheel, and stationary pointer printing-type enables me to employ a much smaller, lighter, and more easily-moved type-wheel, and thus materially contributes to the sensitiveness and accuracy of the machine.

In operation,as the car movesover the platform of the scale, each of its wheels will operate the pawl-lever L, and as the fourth and last wheel of the car operates said lever the pawllever will in turn operate through the lever M the key-level' H, and thus operate the inkingroller G and the printing-block F, and thereby print upon the paper strip the true weight of the car. As the key-lever H makes its return movement the pawldever K will be operated to release the paper-holding roller E?, and thus permit the spring-motor B to wind or feed forward the paper strip the distance equal to the circumference of the holding-roller E The movement of the pawl-lever K to release the holding-roller is immediately followed by its return movement into place to stop the revolution of the holding-roller E so that said roller can make but one revolution at a time.

The holding-roller E* may be provided with a number of stop-pins, k', if desired, to cause theprintings to be made on the paper strip closer together.

In case it is not desired to operate the keylever H automatically, it may be operated by hand. This is specially desirable on small scales for weighing small articles, which are placed upon the scale.

It will be observed that, whether the keylever is operated by hand or automatically, the operation does not take place until after the weight upon the scale or scale-platform has moved the type-wheel to its proper or balanced position to indicate and print the true weight.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, of`a variable counterpoise, a rackbar connected therewith, a type-wheel having a'shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, an inking-roller, a printingblock, and a key-leverconnected with said inking-roller and printing-block for Operating the same, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, of a variable counterpoise, a raekbar connected therewith, a type-wheel having a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, an inking-roller mounted on a vibratory arm or lever swinging transversely across the periphery of said type-wheel, substantially as specified.

3. The conbination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, of a variable counterpoise, a rack-bar connected therewith, a typewheel having a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, said shalt being provided with a counterbalanceweight, as d to compensate for the friction of the moving parts, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with ascale, of a variable counterpoise, a rack-bar, c, connecting said variable counterpoise with one of the scale- -levers, gear d', meshing with said rack-bar and connected with the device for indicati-ng the weight, a dash-pot, and its piston connected with said rack-bar for regulating the move ment thereof, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a scale, of a variable countcrpoise consisting of mercury-containing vessel C', mercury G therein, movable weight-cup 0 mercu-y C* therein, said weight 0 C* being connected with one of the scalele- Vers, and said mercuryvessel G being provided with an adj ustingscrew, c substantially as specified.

6. The combination, ,with a scale, of a Variable counterpoise consisting of nercury-con taining vessel O', mercury G therein, movable weight-cup 0 mercury C therein, said weight C C* being connected With one of the scale-le- ,vers, and rack-bar c, type-wheel D, shalt d,

and gear d',-substantial1y as specified.

7. The combination, with a scale, of a variable counterpcise eonsisting of mercury-containing vessel C', mercury C therein, ruovable Weight-cup C mereury C* therein, said weight 0 0* being connected with one of the scalele- Vers, and rack-bar c, type-wheel D, shaft d, gear d', inking-roller G, mounted on vibratory lever g, printinghlock F, lever F', spring F, and keylever H, substantially as specified,

8. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a variable counterlOO IIO

poise, C, rack-barc, typewheel D, shaftd, gear d', paperstrip guide and holding rollers, inking-roller G, mounted on a transversely-moving vibratory arm, g, printing-block F, lever F', spring F, pawl-lever K for releasing the paper-holding roller, and operating-lever H, i

substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a variable counterpoise, C, rackbar c, type-wheel D, shaft d, gear d@ paper-strip guide and holding rollers, inkingroller G, mounted on a transversely-moving vibratory arm, g, printing-block F, lever F', spring F pawl-lever K for releasing the 'paper-holding roller, Operating-level' H, pawl-le- Ver L, operated by the wheel of the car, and mechanism connecting said pawl-lever with said operating lever H, substantially as specified 10. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a variable counterpoise, C, raclebar c, type-wheel D, shaft d, gear d', paper-strip guide and holding rollers,

inking-roller G, mounted on a transverselymoving Vibratory arm, g, printing-block F, lever F', spring F, pewl-lever K for releasing the paper-holding roller, operating-lever H, and a spring-motor for winding up the paper strip, substantitlly as specified.

11. The combiuation, with a scale, of a Variable counterpoise, C, rack c, type-wheel D,-

slaft d, gear d', seid type-wheel being furnished with type d with division-marks d between the seine, and a stationary pointer printingtype, cZ substantially as specified.

12. The conbinntion, with a scale, e variable counterpoise, and type-wheel, of a stripguide roller, E lever F', upon which said roller is journaled, and it printing-block, F, pivoted to the shaft of said guide-roller, substentially as specified.

l3. The conbination, with a scale, a variable counterpoise, and type-wheel, of a paperstrip-guide roller, E lever F', upon which said roller is journaled, and a printing-block, F, pivoted to the shaft of said guide-roller, and a spring, F substantially as specified.

14. The combnation, with a scale, ot' a Variable counterpoise, C, rack c, type-wheel D, shaft (l, gear d', said type-wheel being furnished with type d with division-marks d* between the same, a stationary pointer printing-type, (I and :L nagnifying-glass, N, substantially as specified.

15. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a veriable counterpoise, C, nick-bar c, type-wheel D, shuft d, gear d', paper-strip guide and holding rollers, inking-roller G, nouuted on a transverselymoving Vibratory arin, g, printiug-block F, lever F", spring F ptwl-lever K, for releasing the paper-holding roller, opereting-lever I-I, link 0 and arm g* on'said lever H, substautially as specified.

16. The combination, with a sctle and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a Variable counterpoise, C, meli-bar c, type-wheel D, shalt d, gear d', paper-strip guide and holding rollers, inking-roller G, mounted on a transverselymoving vibratory arm, g, printing-block F, lever F', spring F pawl-lever K, for releasing the paper-holding roller, operating-lever H, arm h',s1iding spring-catch h, the holdingroller E being furnishecl with stop-pin k', cngagiug the bent end k of seid pawl-lever K, substtntially as specified.

17. The combination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, as a, of a varizble counterpoise, C, rack-bar c, type-wheel D, shaft (l, gear d', paper-strip guide and holding rollers, nking-roller G, mounted on a transverselynoving Vibratory arm, g, printing-block F, levcr F', spring F", pawl-lever K, for releasing the paper-holding roller, Operating-level' H, link 9 arm g* on said lever H, arm h',s1iding spring-catch h, the holding-roller E' being journaled with stop-pin k', engaging the bent end k of said pewl-lever K, substantially as specified.

18. The conbination, with a scale and one of its scale-levers, of a Variable counterpoise, a rack-ber connected therewit'h, a type-wheel having a shaft furnished with a gear mcshing with seid rack, :Lu iuking-roller, a printingblock, and Zt key-level' connected with seid inking-rollcr and printing-block for operetiug the same, a scale-platform, a levcr udepted to be operated by the article to be weighed on the platform, and mechanisn connecting said levcr with said key-lever, substantially :s specified.

EDWARD Il. AMET.

XVitnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADOOCK. 

